Introduction

to
IT & SYSTEMS

PART I

Foundations of computer systems

(Chapter 1)
Organizations of the computer system
Categories of computers
Peripheral Devices
Overview of Software and Hardware

Introduction
Computers today become an integral part of
our lives
Most of the works we are doing in our day
to day life involves computers
Computers play a vital role in our personal
and professional lives
Ex: They assist in educating kids

Managing Finance

Introduction
Obtaining needed information
Keep in touch with distant friends and family
Students can now contact instructors and
perform research
PCs have also led to concept of Small Office
Home Office (SOHO) which enables
employees to work from their homes

Ability of computers
(1) Accept user supplied data
(2) Accept, store and execute programmed
instructions
(3) Perform mathematical and logical
operations.
(4) Display results as per the specified
format

Basic operations of a computer

Input-Accepting data represented in a way
that the computer can use
Processing-Performing arithmetic or logical
operations on the represented data
Output-Displaying results
Storage-Storing results for later use

Evolution of computer systems

The earliest device that qualified as digital
computer was the abacus
In 1842 Charles Babbage invented the
computer but at that time it was named as
Analytical Engine
Keyboards were first used in the US around
1880

Evolution of computer systems

The Electronic Numerical Integrator and

Calculator (ENIAC) was the first electronic
computer developed at the Moore school of
engineering, University of Pennsylvania

(1940s)
The Universal Automatic Computer
(UNIVAC) was the first digital computer and
was installed at the US Census Bureau in 1951

Trends in Computer Development

Table which shows the trends in computer

development

Organization of Computer System

All computers perform the Four Basic
operations
Input
Processing
Output
Storage

Block Diagram of Computer

Basic Organization of a computer system

Input Unit

Data and Instructions must be entered into the

computer system before computation
The input unit performs this task
Data and instructions enter input units in various
forms, depending on the kind of device used
The keyboard enables users to input characters,
numbers, and symbols
The mouse is a device that moves on screen
enabling users to select items and choose options

STORAGE UNIT
Also called as Memory Unit
Two types of Memory Unit

Primary Memory / Temporary Memory / Volatile

Memory
RAM ( Random Access Memory / Buffer )

Secondary Memory / Permanent Memory

Hard Disk , Floppy Disk , CD

Central Processing Unit

The central processing unit is the component

actually processes data
It stores the data and instructions in the computers
primary memory, the Random Access Memory
(RAM).
CPUs contain two sub components, the Control
Unit and the Arithmetic Logic Unit.
ALU performs arithmetic and logical operations,
the CONTROL UNIT (CU) retrieves information
from the storage unit and interprets the information

ALU

It executes the processing operations which are

received as instructions from the primary memory.
The ALU is responsible for performing logical and
arithmetic operations
The results generated at this stage are temporarily
transferred back to the primary storage.
Once the processing is complete the final results
are stored in the storage unit (secondary storage)

CU (Control Unit)

The control unit maintains order and directs

the operation of the entire system by
selecting, interpreting, and ensuring the
execution of program instructions

Multiple Processors
Some computers use more than one
processors for processing. This reduces the
load on the processor
There are several types of Processor
designs.
Support Processor design
Control Processor design
Parallel processor design

Support Processor Design

In this design specialized Microprocessors are
used for performing a variety of functions
These Microprocessors perform tasks ranging
from Input, Output, memory management,
arithmetic operations, multimedia processing.
Several processing functions are clubbed
together in one processor in advanced
Microprocessors

Control Processor design

In this design multiple CPUs or
microprocessors are used to execute more
than one instruction simultaneously.
Processors are used to provide backup
facilities in case of any failure

Parallel processor design

In this design, a group of instruction processors is

used to execute the program
In parallel processing, hundreds or thousands of
processors are organized in clusters or networks to
process program instructions
The model that is based on the human brain is
called the Neural Network
Neural Networks are exceptionally good at Pattern
Recognition and other tasks that are very difficult
to program using conventional techniques.

RISC

RISC-Reduced Instruction Set Computer.

It is a type of Microprocessor that recognizes a
relatively limited number of instructions
So some computer manufacturers decided to
reverse this trend by building CPUs capable of
executing only a limited set of instructions.
A major advantage of reduced instruction set
computers is that they can execute the instructions
very fast.
Moreover as RISC chips require fewer transistors
they are cheaper to design and produce

CISC

CISC-Complex Instruction Set Computer.

Most personal computers use a CISC architecture,
in which the CPU supports as many as Instructions
(200)
The processing circuitry includes many special
purpose circuits that carry out these instructions at
high speed
CISC chips are complex and expensive to produce.
Generally RISC ships process faster as compared
to the CISC chips

Output Unit

The output unit conveys the results of computation

to the users.
The monitor shows the results of processing data
on the screen
The printer generates an output in the printed
format. These output units link the computer with
the external environment.
Output interfaces accomplishes the task of
converting the binary code, which is produced by
the computer into human readable form.

Storage Unit

The data and instructions that enter the computer

system through input units need to be stored
internally before the actual processing starts.
The results produced by the computer, after
processing, must also be stored inside the computer
before being passed on to the output units.
The storage units of a computer system are designed
to cater to all these needs
The hard disk provides a large amount of storage
space for programs and data.
Floppy disks drives enable the user to store and
exchange data with others.

Types of Computer system

Computers can be classified based on

According to their usage
Technology used
Size of the computer
Capacity.

Types of Computer system

According to Usage
The utility of computer will differ from one
organization to another. Based on their
utility, computers can be classified into
General purpose computers
Special purpose computers

Types of Computer system

According to Usage - General
purpose computers
General purpose computers are used for Sales
Analysis, Financial Accounting, Invoicing and
inventory Management.
These are common types of computers and are
used for commercial and educational purposes.
Ex: Desktop computers and Network
Computers
Desktop computers are personal computers
designed for individual use.

Types of Computer system

According to Usage - Special
purpose computers

Special purpose computers are developed to serve

a specific purpose.
Ex: Computers for Weather Forecasting, Medical
Diagnostics, Space application and so on.
These computers generally perform complex
operations that require a high degree of accuracy
and speed.
They are powerful tools for engineers, architects,
circuit designers.

Types of Computer system

According to Technology used
Analog Computers
Digital Computers
Hybrid Computers

Types of Computer system

According to Technology used
Analog Computers
Those that are developed for special purposes.
These computers store volatile physical
quantities like temperature, speed, pressure etc.
These computers are used for scientific and
engineering activities.
Ex: Thermometers and speedometers.

Types of Computer system

According to Technology used
Digital computers
Digital computers are essentially general
purpose computers that store and represent
data in numbers.
Although users input data in the text form, it is
converted into the binary format for processing
and storage purposes.
In binary format, data is represented in the
form of 0s and 1s.

Types of Computer system

According to Technology used
Hybrid Computers
Hybrid computers are a combination of analog
and digital computers
These computers store analog signals as numbers.
The conversion from analog signals to numbers and
vice versa is done using the analog-to-digital and
digital-to-analog converters respectively
These computers are used in the field of Artificial
Intelligence (AI) and Computer Aided Manufacturing
(CAM)

Types of Computer system

-According to Size and Capacity
Super Computers
Mainframe Computers
Mini computers
Micro Computers
Servers

Types of Computer system

-According to Size and Capacity
Super Computers
These computers have very high processing speeds
They are designed to process huge amounts of
scientific data
These computers operate at high speed because they
have several CPUs running simultaneously
They have huge primary memories and the most
advanced processing capabilities
Super computers are designed including engine
cooling systems to dissipate internal heat build up

Types of Computer system

-According to Size and Capacity
Super Computers

Ex: An IBM super computer built for the Department

of Energy can execute 3 trillion program instructions
per second and is equipped with 2.5 tera bytes of
storage memory.
Supercomputers are extensively used in areas like
energy management, Electronic design, Nuclear
energy, Research etc.
Ex: CRAY3, CRAYXMP, PRAM9000, PRAM10000

Types of Computer system

-According to Size and Capacity
Main Frames

These are huge multi user systems designed to handle

gigantic processing jobs.
They have large primary memories, substantial
processing and data communication capabilities
They can be connected using terminals, i.e., remote
keyboard and display units as well as personal computers
Main frames are generally stored in special rooms that
have controlled climate.
The main application of these computers is for Railways,
Airline Reservation and Banking
Ex: IBM3090, IBM4381, and IBM4300

Types of Computer system

-According to Size and Capacity
Mini Computers

These are multi user systems that can handle the computing
needs of a smaller corporation or organization.
Mini computers are typically multi user systems
Sometimes supporting more than 500 online terminals.
These computers are cheaper as compared to Mainframes
These computers replace mainframes where there is scope of
distributed application
Ex: IBM AS/400 PDP - 1

Types of Computer system

-According to Size and Capacity
Micro computers
Micro computers are the smallest digital
computers and are commonly known as personal
computers (PC).
These computers use microprocessors as their
CPU. They can be used on the network or as
stand alone systems.
There are 2 models of microcomputers, the
desktop and the portable model
Example of a portable model is Laptops

Types of Computer system

-According to Size and Capacity
Servers

A server can be defined as a computer or device that

manage network resources on a network.
Ex: A file server is a computer and storage device
dedicated to storing files.
Any user on the network can store files on the server.
A print server is a computer that manage one or more
printers and a network server is a computer that
manages the network traffic

Thank You